asked the Minister for Health if he is aware that a number of hospital beds cannot be made available for use because of shortage of nurses; if in order to relieve the situation he will take steps to encourage the opening of a register for a grade of nurses equivalent to state enrolled nurses; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Shortage of Nurses.
8.
I am aware that nurse staffing difficulties have arisen in the Dublin Health Authority's institutions and I gave some particulars of the numbers of beds affected in reply to a question by Deputy Desmond on 29th April. The problem arises also in the psycho-geriatric service of Cork Health Authority but otherwise no serious difficulties have arisen.
I informed the Deputy on 7th May, 1969, in reply to a question on the possibility of setting up a register for a grade of nurse equivalent to the state enrolled nurse that An Bord Altranais do not favour such a course in the present circumstances. They are, however, keeping the position under constant review.
In an effort to help recruitment of general trained nurses to geriatric hospitals I approved in May, 1969, of the payment of a special allowance of £40 per annum to such nurses and ward sisters. In the case of the Dublin geriatric nurse staffing problem which presents most difficulty the proposed changes in the function and management of two major health authority hospitals should have helpful consequences in this area. These are at St. Kevin's and James Connolly Memorial Hospitals. I am hopeful that decisions about these changes will be arrived at in the course of the next few months.
Would the Minister have regard to the fact that staffing difficulties become acute during the summer period when regular staff are taking their summer holidays? Having regard to the fact that it is now generally recognised that State enrolled nurses can perform 25 per cent of the services rendered by general nurses, would the Minister not urge An Bord Altranais to make this necessary move? It will certainly have to be taken within a few years and it is better to take it now rather than when it is too late.
We are certainly discussing this matter with An Bord Altranais. They are undertaking a statistical inquiry into the whole position of the nursing profession in all the hospitals of the State. I hope their inquiry will be expedited. As the Deputy said, there are two points of view about the idea of State enrolled nurses. An Bord Altranais seem to be very much against it and this idea is not looked at with pleasure by the Irish Nurses Organisation. We are examining the whole position as quickly as we can.
Is the Minister aware that the position has worsened quite recently and that we are building beds at enormous cost that cannot be filled simply because An Bord Altranais say: "You cannot have this grade of nurse"? How long is the Minister going to remain patient with that situation?
I am hopeful that as a result of the changes that will take place there will be more movement from voluntary hospitals to health authority hospitals. The Deputy may know that negotiations in relation to the James Connolly Memorial Hospital and St. Kevin's Hospital will lead towards that end.
Another ward will have to be closed in Cherry Orchard next week.
There have also been some proposals made recently which, I think, are coming before the Dublin Health Authority about conditions of employment that will enable transfers to be made more easily between voluntary hospitals and Dublin Health Authority hospitals. I hope that will have an equally beneficial effect.
Question No. 9.
Is the Minister aware that even that will not solve the problem, that the voluntary hospitals at present want to engage State enrolled nurses to deal with certain categories of patients, particularly elderly patients, and they are not allowed do so?
It would be very difficult for me to enforce a regulation about a change in the methods of training nurses against the absolute advice of the training authority in the country and against the wishes, at the moment, of the Irish Nurses Organisation. All I can tell the Deputy is that we are going to study this matter as intelligently and as far-thinkingly as we possibly can.